CHICAGO, IL --  Ra Joy, Suburban Director for U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky, today delivered a statement from Representative Schakowsky to delegates celebrating their centennial at the Rotary International Convention.  Representative Schakowsky joined Senator Durbin this spring to sponsor a Congressional Resolution honoring Rotary for 100 years of service to America.  Rotary International is an Evanston, IL based organization located within the 9^th Congressional District, represented by Schakowsky.

The text of Representative Schakowsky’s statement to the Rotary Convention is below:

“The celebration of Rotary’s centennial is culminating here today where it all began - Chicago. Thank you Rotary for your 100 years of service to humanity and for remaining dedicating to the mission of service above self.”

“As the world's first service club and one of the largest nonprofit service organizations in the world, the country owes you a debt of gratitude for your humanitarian service, your encouragement of high ethical standards in all vocations, and your effort to spread goodwill and peace in the world.”

“Rotarians develop community service projects that address many of today's most critical issues, such as children at risk, poverty and hunger, the environment, illiteracy, and violence. You support programs for youth, educational opportunities and international exchanges for students, teachers, and other professionals, and vocational and career development.”

“The Rotary motto of Service Above Self is an example for all Americans and all humanity.”

“I want to especially recognize Rotary for your efforts in the campaign for the global eradication of polio. In the 1980s, Rotarians raised $240 million to immunize the children of the world; by the end of 2005, the Polio-Plus program will have contributed $500 million to this cause. Rotary has provided an army of volunteers to promote and assist at national immunization days in polio-endemic countries around the world.”

“Due in large part to Rotary’s efforts, the number of polio cases has fallen from an estimated 350,000 in 1988 to less than 1,300 in 2004 – a more than 99% decline in reported cases. More than 200 countries and territories are polio-free.”

“From the launch of the global initiative in 1988, to the eradication target date of 2005, 5 million people who may otherwise have been paralyzed will be walking because they have been immunized against polio. Polio incidence has been reduced 99% since Rotary started its global initiative in 1988.” 

“Thank you Rotary for your service, your leadership, and your commitment to making America and the world a better place.  And I thank each of you for being here to celebrate Rotary’s centennial and its future service to humanity.”